Human motor coordination measuring apparatus

ABSTRACT

A stationary exercise device is modified to record cyclic positional information of the hand and foot operated pedals against a variable load which load level is also recorded to indicate brain damage in terms of pedal lag for either set of pedals. Alternatively, the apparatus may be motor driven under a specified load for a partially or totally incapacitated person for therapy for the motor brain center.

[ 1 July 17,1973

United States Patent [191 Neis HUMAN MOTOR COORDINATION MEASURINGAPPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,008,973 5/1957Germany.....,....................

[76] Inventor: Harry B. Neis, R.R. No. 1, Box 199A, Osage Beach, Mo.65065 Oct. 26, 1970 Primary Examiner-William E. Kamm AttorneyRobert G.McMorrow [21] App]. No.: 84,143

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 832,548, May 21,1969, Pat. No.

ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 128/2 S, 73/379, 128/2,

A stationary exercise device is modified to record cy- 272/73 A6lb 5/00128/2 N, 2 R, 2 S,

clic positional information of the hand and foot oper- [51] Int. atedpedals against a variable load which load level. is

also recorded to indicate brain damage in terms of [58] Field ofSearch....................

12s 2.0s R, 2.06 1 ,206 R; 212/ 72 v i/ pedal lag for either set ofpedals. Alternatively, the apparatus may be motor driven under aspecified load for a partially or totally incapacitated person'fortherapy for the motor brain center.

[5 6] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,589,193 6/1971 Thornton73/379 R 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 7 ei un im 7 Pmm I 1 ms SHEEI 2 BF3 PAIENIEDJULHM; v 3.745.990

sumsnra RHT o I 0 A 40 2 O T, 2 T3 RECORDER POINTER GRAPHICAL HUMANMOTOR COORDINATION MEASURING APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a division of application Ser. No.832,548, filed May 21, 1969 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,572,699.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to pedal operated exercise devices and more particularly, to anexercise device which is modified to perform as a skeletal musclecoordinator, brain motor area stimulator, diagnostic simulator andtherapy device.

2. Description of the Prior Art Attempts have been made to recordskeletal muscle activity to determine possible brain damage and thespecific areas thereof by allowing the patient to perform manualexercise and record the effect insofar as consistency in muscularapplication is concerned. This type of activity can neither beaccomplished accurately nor recorded with any accuracy unless the personis operating under an actual workload. Further, it is difficult todetermine when employing a multiple limb cyclic operating exercise orwork performing device, which particular part of the cycle of which thehuman performing the exercise is contributing to the greatest extent.Finally, since there is a necessity that the exercise be undertakenunder considerable load, it was impossible in the past to insure thatthe load remains constant for each exercise and further that the load insome way be recorded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a modifiedexercising device employing either hand or foot-operated pedals, orboth, wherein cyclic rotation of the pedal is recorded in theform of agraph having portions printed and wherein the printer records separatelythe particular 40 load imposed on the exercise apparatus during thecyclic operation of the same. For therapy purposes, the exercise devicemay be motor driven forcing the human operator to move his limbs under adefined pattern of movement until the same movement can be achievedvoluntarily subsequent to repair of the brain damage.

This procedure either reopens non-used synapses or Weak synapses or bybombardment a detour route is established and normal function againoccurs.

In general, the .apparatus which measures human motor coordinationcomprises a cyclic limb driven mechanism and transducer means forproviding electrical signals indicative of individual cyclic positionsof the mechanism and means to record the signals sequentially and totherebyprovide a complete record of limb participation in movement ofthe mechanism through multiple cycles of operation.

Preferably paired pedals are driven both by the arms and legs of theoperator with transducer means associated with both left and rightpedals. Means are further provided for varying an artificial load on theexercising device and a pressure transducer associated therewithtransmits a third signal indicative of said load. Each of saidtransducers for the foot and hand pedals involves a movable contactwhich sequentially contacts fixed contacts at spaced angular positions,which in themselves are coupled to individual resistances which aredifferently loaded, for feeding momentary signals of correlated currentstrength to the recorder and/or graph printer. The pressure transducerpreferably comprises spaced conductive plates, means for springbiasingthe plates together with form loads ranging from zero pounds to 200pounds and a fluid intermediate of the plates whose conductivity varieswith spring pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a skeletalmuscle coordinator, brain motor area stimulator, diagnostic simulatorand therapy apparatus of the present invention in one form;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the appara tus taken aboutlines 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the pressure transducer;

FIG. 5 is a elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 from theopposite side to that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a modified version of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1incorporating a drive motor allowing the apparatus to be used fortherapy;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown inFIG. 6 taken about line 7--7;

FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic diagram of a portion of the apparatusincluding the recorder and print-out device for graphically displayingthe electrical signals emanating from the transducers;

FIG. 9 is a graphical plot of cyclicly recorded information from theapparatus of Figure, and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a modified form of pedal assembly for usewith the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS cycle which includes astationary frame 12 which may be of tubular construction includingvertical risers 14 l at the rear and a single vertical riser l6 at thefront of the device which supports a horizontal support 18, carrying-atits rear end, a seat 20 upon which the occupant sits during operation ofthe device either in a motor driven form or in human driven form undersome load. In conventional fashion, a pair of arms 22 and 24 support ahand-operatedp'edal assembly 26 having righthand handle 28 and left-handhandle 30 which extend from each other and are fixed to a commonhorizontal shaft 32. A multiple unit sprocket assembly 34 carriessprocket chain 36 which passes over multiple idler sprockets 38 to thereversely oriented variable diameter multiple unit of foot sprocketassembly 40 carried by foot pedal assembly 42 at the outer end of thelower arm 24. A right foot pedal-46 again is disposed on the foot pedalshaft 48 180 and on the opposite side from left foot pedal 50. Thesprocket chain 36 may be readily changed from the small to the largediameter sprockets as desired. The load on the sprocket chain 36 isincreased or decreased by increasing the tension of springs 52, incombination with adjustment of the compressive pressure exerted upon therotatable sprockets 38 which form a part of the pressure transducerassembly indicated generally at 54 and shown specifically in FIG. 4. Theupper ends of springs 52 are fixed while the lower ends are movablethrough the common connection 56 and the tension cord 60 carried by drum62 whose position may be readily adjusted by operating handle 64. Theseelements are supported by brackets 66 and a pawl and ratchet mechanism68 locks the tensioning cord 60 in any desired position eitherincreasing or decreasing the spring tension of springs 52. Members 22and 24 which support the individual sprockets 38 are therefore movedrelative to each other about the pivot point formed by shaft 70 to varythe load or tension acting on the sprocket chain 36. Of course, thisload-changing arrangement operates in conjunction with the pressuretransducer assembly 54.

Reference to FIG. 4 shows that the multiple idler sprockets 38 carriedby arms 22 and 24, respectively are coupled to mounting bolts 72 whichpass through spaced plates 74 and 76 with interspersed coil spring 78interspersed therebetween. Further, the plates 74 and 76 are centrallyapertured and carry yet a third bolt 80 whose outer end supports a wingnut 82. Rotation of the wing nut 82 causes the coil springs 78 to becompressed exerting a greater compressive force between the sprocketmember and support arms 22 and 24 which act as brakes or a drag on themoving chain 36 through respective sprockets thus increasing the load toboth foot pedals 42 and hand'pedal 26. Further, the compressive forceexerted between discs 84 and 86 of the pressure transducer is likewisevaried to the same degree. The two discs 84 and 86 carry electricalcontact surfaces (not shown) and interspersed between these contractsurfaces is a fluid whose resistivity varies in inverse proportion tothe compressive force acting thereupon. Thus, by rotating wing nut 82 toincrease the compressive force acting between'discs 84 and 86, theresistance of the fluid captured between the conductive forces of thesediscs is decreased and thus the electrical current signal from thepressure transducer is increased. Appropriate leads 88 and 90 to therespective discs complete the electrical circuit. Thus, any time thatthe load on the exercise device is varied, the variance is achieved byincrease in compressive force or decrease on the fluid captured betweenthe opposed surfaces of discs 84 and 86 and a signal of appropriateintensity is directed from the pressure transducer 54 to the printoutdevice which records the same. Likewise, as best seen in FIG. 8 a handpedal transducer assembly 92 is associated with hand-operated pedalassembly 26 while a foot pedal transducer assembly 94 is associated withthe foot pedal assembly 42, both assemblies being carried by respectivepedal shafts 32 and 48. In this respect, each of the transducers 92 and94 likewise comprise discs, in this case a rotatable disc 96 and astationary disc 98 for the upper assembly and a non-rotatable disc,102for the lower assembly. Each rotatable disc causes one energized contactwhile the fixed disc carries a plurality of circumferentially spacedcontacts. For instance, referring to transducer assembly 92, rotatingdisc 96 carries a single contact 103 connected to bottom 101 and thefixed disc 98 carries circumferentially spaced contacts 104, which areconnected to differently weighted resistors 106 all of which areconnected to an impedance matcher 108 the output of which passes throughline 110 and amplifier 112 to an appropriate recorder 114.

In like fashion, transducer assembly 94 includes circumferentiallyspaced fixed contacts 116 which are individually connected todifferently weighted resistors 118 which are connected to impedancematcher 120. The output line 122 is connected to amplifier 124; theamplified signal energizing recorder 126. The individual fixed contacts116 are carried by stationary disc 102 while a single rotary contact 127which is connected to a source of voltage 129 is carried by therotati'ng disc 100. The pressure transducer assembly 54 on the otherhand incorporates discs 84 and 86. The variable resistance due to thecompression on electrically conductive fluid (not shown) capturedbetween the disc faces causes a signal indicative of load to be fed toimpedance matcher 130, and then through amplifier 132 to recorder 134.It is noted that each of the recorders 114, 126 and 134 feedsappropriate electrical signals to the printer 136 which provides aprintout of the recorded information. The printout device 136 maycomprise a graph printer, in which case a typical printout consists ofgraph forms having various configurations depending upon the rate ofrotation of the hand and foot pedals, the rhythm or lack of rhythmconsistency in rotative speed, the lack or presence of momentary pauseswithin the cyclic movement of the foot and hand pedals.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a graph of the transducer outputsignal indicated by graph lines A, B and C. In this respect, thestraight line A indicates a 40 pound pressure output from the pressuretransducer 54 throughout the time period from zero to T Simultaneouslytherewith, the printer 136 provides a graphic illustration of thetransducer signals from left hand transducer output as indicated in plotB which constitutes a stepped but uniform curve having steps indescending order due to the different weights given to resistances 106.With respect to graph line C the first series of steps are uniform,while the central portion 138 of the graph is a straight line indicatingan absence of left hand contribution to the work derived from rotatingthe hand operated pedal for a period of time from T to T Subsequently,from T to T the left hand pedal is operated by the patient as indicatedby the uniform stepped appearance of the graph line C from T to T,. Thisindicates that the right control motor area of the brain of the patientor operator is deficient and the extent of such deficiency. Thus, byviewing the graph provided as the ultimate output from printer 136,ready designation from the hand positions are shown and the plot lineson the graphs show what area of the brain motor is involved in anyinstance and which movement shows the greatest abnormal pattern. It isthus relatively easy to locate the brain lesion or deficit.

The printer will provide continuous patterns, with cycles in thehundreds, however, the physician may be readily aware of thenon-functioning area or areas of the brain which insures maximumaccuracy in his recommendation as to treatment, either actively orpassively. Further, the rate in rhythm and coordination and/ornon-coordination between the movements and change in relationship to thechange in cogs on the two sprockets will afl'ect the recorded wavepattern. However, by a graphical record of these movements, the rate inrhythm change may be readily measured for the first time in an accuratemanner and something can be done positively with respect to thedeficiency in that portion of the motor area of the brain whichcorresponds to the non-contributive portions of the cycle.

Further, it is possible, by incorporating in the specific handles orpedals 28, 30, 46 and 50, a pressure trans ducer similar to that of FIG.5 in which the active pressure exerted by the patient on the handle andagainst the shaft holding the handle may be meassured by means of acompressive fluid captured threrebetween whose resistance changes withpressure. At all times, regardless of cyclic position of the individualhandles or pedals of each pedal assembly, one would readily know, bytransmission and recording of signals, applied pressure for each limit,such as the pressure indicative signal or graph line A in FIG. 12. Therewould be re corded the contribution of each limb of the operator over afull 360 rotation of each pedal assembly. Thus, not only would there berecorded signals indicative of actual rotation of the handle but theamount of pressure or lack of pressure exerted by the operator duringrotation of the same.

FIG. shows schematically a typical modified pedal assembly, which couldbe substituted for the upper pedal assembly 26 in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 13, the pedal shaft 132 carries asprocket assembly 134 and on each end L-shaped pedal support means 136and 138 for left and right-hand pedals, respectively. The left-handpedal support shaft 140 carries a bronze cylinder 142 as the handle ofthe pedal assembly which is inserted upon, and received by cylindricalrod 144 also formed of a conductive material. Interposed therebetween,is a transducer mixture 146 which constitutes a fluid whose electricalresistance varies with pressure such thatby grasping the outer bronzecylinder 142 and exerting some force while rorating the pedal assembly,the resistance offered by the transducer mixture 146 decreases underapplied pressure, lowering the electrical resistance and increasing thecurrent flowing between these members. The same arrangement is providedfor the right hand pedal or handle involving an outer brass cylinder148, an inner broze cylindrical member 150 fixed to pedal shaft 152 andan interspersed transducer mixture 154. A signal may be delivered asindicated in FIG 10 from the outer cylinder 148constituting the handlevia line 156 to the preamplifier 158 and to the recorder 160, andgraphical pointer 162 for right hand pedal assembly and the same meanscoupled to left hand assembly (not shown).

From the above, it is seen that the instant invention as applied in itsmost sphisticated form, acts to measure accurately the workload. It alsomeasures and accurately records the location of the hand and feetpositions atall times during the performance of the work and furtherreadily measures the transducer pressure for each limb, that is, allfour hands and feet simultaneously to indicate for each moment, therelative participation inthe performance of the work by the individual.From the above, it is therefore apparent that if the central brain motorcenter is weak for one extremity there will be a recorded difference inthe relationship as to the rhythm, speed and coordination which isreadily sshown by graph comparison. Further, after prolonged exercise,the variants in the graph for the cy-' cles may readily indicate theimrpovements of a handicapped person and the closeness with which he maycome to a normal physiological standard in regard to both motorcoordination and adaptive behavior.

It further may be observed that the variables of brain response fordifferent persons may be readily measured and ascertainable graphicallyby the knowledge of the pressure being applied to each of the fourpedals at all times, the location of the upper and lower pedals at anyinstant of time and for a given time: period, and the rate and number ofturns of the pedal. As a result of study, most persons considered normalhave 2 sets of uncoordinated upper and lower extremities arythamies andmentally retarded children have six to 14 lags per some completerotations of the upper sprocket measurement, for instance. During actualuse of the device, regardless of the number of changes from rhythm tononrhythm coordination, the first several days of exercise the samegraphic pattern persists. However, upon further exercise, the patternsare less severe and in actuality thereapy is occuring. Since all fourpedals on the basic device are all coupled by a common sprocket andchain arrangement, continuous movement of the pedal by either drivenpower, or under actual operation of one or more of the pedals at anygiven instant, causes due to continuous movement of the same individualbombarding of the weak motor area of the brain and if the area iscompletely gone the neutron bombardment will reroute around the damagedarea in true therapeutic fashion. It is believed that if a person has atotal paralysis of one member or perhaps two members continuous movementeither by power driven techniques or by partial human propulsion suchthat, for instance, if all four limbs are paralyzed, attachment of thehands and the legs to the pedals and by operating the device with anelectric motor, the motor-driven coordinator and uncoordinator patternare continuously presented to the occupant until response is present allowing the occupant to use his or her own power. Further, with aresistant clutch, a precise working load may be applied to anon-functioning area to speed up the recovery of the correction of thedeficit area.

Reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 discloses a modification of the apparatusshown in FIGSfl through 5, inclusive. In this embodiment the same basicelements are presented and like numerals define like elements. Inaddition, however, there is provided an auxiliary sprocket 200 on whichrides an auxiliary chain 202, the outer end of which is carried by amuch smaller sprocket 204 coupled to a drive motor shaft 206. Fixed toarm 28 is an electric motor 208 and means are provided for energizingthe motor 208 through leads 210 to cause the same to be driven thusrotatingauxiliary sprocket 200, the main foot pedal shaft 40 and drivingthe foot pedal assembly 42 which is coupled by chain 36 to thehanddriven pedal assembly 26 at the outer end of arm 22. Thus forcedtherapeutic exercise is achieved.

I claim:

1. Apparatus to measure human motor coordination comprising:

a cyclic, limb-drivable mechanism comprising a stationary, modifiedbicycle including a rotatable foot pedal assembly and a rotatablehand-operated pedal assembly;

sprocket means carried by each of said pedal assemblies;

an endless chain coupling said sprocket means;

idler sprockets operatively coupled to said chain intermediate of saidhand and foot pedal assemblies;

means for varying the frictional restraint on said idler sprockets toprovide a variable load force;

first transducer means providing electrical signals indicative ofinstanteneous positions of said cyclically drivable mechanism; meanscoupled to said first transducer means to record said signalssequentially to thereby provide a complete record of limb participationat various stages of each cyclic movement of said mechanism;

second transducer means operatively associated with said limb-drivablemechanism for providing instantaneous electrical signals indicative ofpressure applied to said pedals during cyclic operation of saidlimb-drivable mechanism; and

means coupled to said second transducer means to record said signals tothereby provide a record of limb participation at various stages of eachcyclic movement of said mechanism.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said first transducermeans are associated with each of said pedal assemblies for inciatingindependently, the instantaneous angular position of respective pedals.

3. The apparatus as claim in claim 2 wherein: said first transducermeans comprises a pair of discs, one of said discs being fixed, theother of said discs being rotatable, said rotatable disc carries asingle contact, said fixed disc carries a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced contacts positioned in the path of said rotating contact; andsaid apparatus further includes means energizing said single contact ofsaid rotatable disc, differentially weighted resistors, means connectingsaid fixed disc contacts respectively to individual,differentiallyweighted resistors; amplifier means for amplifying the signals from saidcontacts through said individual resistors; and recording means forrecording each of said signals whereby the angular movement of saidindividual pedal assemblies at cyclic positions during exercise may bevisually ascertained.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said second transducingmeans includes a pressure transducer associated with each right and leftpedal for indicating the pressure being applied to the respective pedalassembly components by individual limbs during rotation thereof.

1. Apparatus to measure human motor coordination comprising: a cyclic,limb-drivable mechanism comprising a stationary, modified bicycleincluding a rotatable foot pedal assembly and a rotatable hand-operatedpedal assembly; sprocket means carried by each of said pedal assemblies;an endless chain coupling said sprocket means; idler sprocketsoperatively coupled to said chain intermediate of said hand and footpedal assemblies; means for varying the frictional restraint on saididler sprockets to provide a variable load force; first transducer meansproviding electrical signals indicative of instanteneous positions ofsaid cyclically drivable mechanism; means coupled to said firsttransducer means to record said signals sequentially to thereby providea complete record of limb participation at various stages of each cyclicmovement of said mechanism; second transducer means operativelyassociated with said limbdrivable mechanism for providing instantaneouselectrical signals indicative of pressure applied to said pedals duringcyclic operation of said limb-drivable mechanism; and means coupled tosaid second transducer means to record said signals to thereby provide arecord of limb participation at various stages of each cyclic movementof said mechanism.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: saidfirst transducer means are associated with each of said pedal assembliesfor inciating independently, the instantaneous angular position ofrespective pedals.
 3. The apparatus as claim in claim 2 wherein: saidfirst transducer means comprises a pair of discs, one of said discsbeing fixed, the other of said discs being rotatable, said rotatabledisc carries a single contact, said fixed disc carries a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced contacts positioned in the path of saidrotating contact; and said apparatus further includes means energizingsaid single contact of said rotatable disc, differentially weightedresistors, means connecting said fixed disc contacts respectively toindividual,differentially weighted resistors; amplifier means foramplifying the signals from said contacts through said individualresistors; and recording means for recording each of said signalswhereby the angular movement of said individual pedal assemblies atcyclic positions during exercise may be visually ascertained.
 4. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said second transducing meansincludes a pressure transducer associated with each right and left pedalfor indicating the pressure being applied to the respective pedalassembly components by individual limbs during rotation thereof.